Mechanism for removing foreign particles from the eye



1946- c. ANDRZEJEWSKI 2,410,257

MECHANISM FOR REMOVING FOREIGN PARTICLES FROM THEEYE Filed Dec. 5, 1945 gli Ill lll'arillll/ hwnsvv 7-52 644 64 fl/vo EZEJ'EWJK/ Patented Oct. 29, 1946 MECHANISM FOR REMOVING FOREIGN PARTICLES FROMTHEEYE Clara Andrzejewski, Chi

cag o, Ill., assignor. to

Joseph Belzowski, Robert L. Squire. and Frank Z Roder, Chicago, Ill.

Application December'5, 1945, Serial No. 632,936

My invention relates to improvements in devices for removing foreign bodies from the eye.

My invention relates more particularly'to an instrument capable of removing dust, dirt, foreign matter and the like from the eye, that is to say, between the eyeball and the upper or lower lid or where the particle is simply resting upon the eyeball, or partially embedded in the eyeball, and includes among its other features mechanism for magnifying the area in which the .particle is lodged, so that it is more easily discovered and an eye wash or lubricant fountain from which desired amounts of liquid can beinserted at the time that the particle is being removed or thereafter.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device or mechanism of the type described which can be easily carried in the pocket similar to a-fountain pen, yet is capable of and ready for instant use whenever the emergency. arises. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument or mechanism, for removing particles from the eye, which has a looped hair or other filament positioned at one .end with a magnifying glass so arranged that it may be adjusted to enlarge or magnify the area where the particle lies and mechanism associated with the hair for lubricating or washing the eye at the time that the particle is being removed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an instrument or mechanism of the type described which is ready for instant use whenever desired and which can be easily assembled or disassembled to remove or repair broken parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typev described which includes a 8 Claims. (01. 128-4) In the preferred construction of my invention, the same may include a cylindrical barrel Ill whichis tapered at its forward end l2 and provided with the flattened nose I4. I provide a pair of drilled openings'lfi in the nose [4 to receive theends of a looped hair I8 and hold them in the position shown with the loop extending forward from the nose of the barrel. The filament which I use may be either human hair, horse hair or plastic or other similar fine "strand, that is comparatively rigid yet capable of flexing so that when the ends are inserted into the opening IE it will be fixedly held in position. I provide an axial passageway 20 in the barrel in extending from the nose M to a chamber or reservoir 22 that is normally filled with an eye wash or lubricantfor use; in connection with the hair l8. A plunger'24ma'y be positioned in the chamber 22 having a rod 26 extending backwardly therefrom to a button 28. A coiled spring 30 normally keeps the plunger in the retarded position in the reservoir shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

In order to assemble the parts described, I

- provide a threaded ring member 32 provided with reservoir, which is easily and quickly filled with eye wash or lubricant, so that a constant supply of the same is always present whenever the. in-

strument is used.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying sheet of drawings upon which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View showing the instrument in use for removing a particle from t e eye;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same with the upper cap removed, so that eye wash or lubricant can be insertedinto the eye;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the.instrument or mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof taken in the position shown in Fig. 1.

the bore 34 that is screW-threadedly mounted in the tapped opening 36 in the end of the barrel In. The ring 32 ma extend beyond the end of the barrel l0to screw-threadedly engage a closure member 38 provided with an opening 40 therein to receivethe end of the plunger rod 26 and plunger button 28. A fastening clip 42, similar to that provided on pencils or fountain pens, may be secured to the barrel l0 so that when the unit isassembled it may be fastened in the pocket of the wearer. I

The end of the barrel It) may beprovided with a cap 44 which is frictionally fastened over the same and serves to protect the loop l8 when the instrumentis not in use. It may also have a chamber 46 of suflicient size, so that a small box 48 which contains additionalv loops may be carried therein.

When the instrument is to be used for removing particles from the eye and, in order to facilitate discovery of the same, I have provided a magnifying glass 50 which is mounted for angular adjustment upon a bracket 52 that is carried by a band 54. The band 54 is slidably mounted upon the barrel l0 and can be adjusted so that the magnifying glass may be brought to the exact position necessary to examine the eyeball. When not in use, the magnifying glass may be folded down against the side of the barrel as shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to use the device which I aildad surface of the eyeball or between the eyeball and.

one of the lids of the eye. If it is desired to place some eye wash or lubricant in the eye,'the

closure member 38 is unscrewed and pressure upon the button 28 will force a portion of the fluid in the reservoir 22 through the opening and deposit it upon the loop 18. Since placing lubricant on the loop during removal sometimes assists materially in loosening or moving the particle, I have found this combination tobe highly advantageous. It will also be understood that the filament or loop I8 is sufliciently flexible and :delicate, so that no scraping or other harm will result as it is moved across the membrane of the eye.

From the above and foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided a practical and highly eflicient mechanism for removing particles from the eye. The device is compact and so constructed that it can be easily carried in a workmans pocket and is readily accessible and ready for use whenever particles get into workers eyes. While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not Wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a barrel having a reservoir therein, a passageway from said reservoir leading to one end of said barrel, a plunger in said reservo r and a flexible U-shaped loop positioned in the end of said barrel having its legs secured upon opposite sides of said passageway.

2. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a barrel having a reservoir therein, a passageway from said reservoir leading to one end of said barrel, a plunger in saidreservoir and a flexible U -shaped loop positioned in the end of said barrel having its legs secured upon opposite sides of said passageway, eye wash in said reservoir and spring means for returning said plunger after it has been operated to force fluid from said reservoir.

3. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a barrel having a reservoir therein, fluid in said reservoir, a passageway from said reservoir leading to one end of said barrel, a spring-pressed plunger in said reservoir, a flexible U-shaped loop positioned in the end of said barrel having its legs secured upon opposite sides of said passageway and a magnifying glass mounted 4 on said barrel and capable of movement thereon to position the same in proximity to said loop v during use.

4. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a barrel having a reservoir therein, fluid in said reservoir, a passageway from said reservoir leading to one end of said barrel, a spring-pressed plunger in said reservoir, a

flexible U-shaped loop positioned in the end of said barrel having its legs secured upon opposite sidesof said passageway and a magnifying glass mounted on said barrel and capable of movement thereon to position the same in proximity to said loop during use, and a cap for the end of said barrel, said cap having additional loop members therein.

5. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical barrel having a reservoir therein, eye wash in said reservoir, a minute passageway from said reservoir leading to one end of said barrel, a spring-pressed plunger in said reservoir, a rod extending from' said plunger, a closure member secured to the end of said barrel and enclosing said rod, a flexible U- shaped hair loop positioned in the end of said barrel having its legs fastened in holes upon opposite sides of said passageway and a magnifying glass mounted on said barrel and capable of movement thereon to position the same in proximity to said loop during use, said magnifying glass also capable of angular adjustment.

6. A device for removing particles from the eye comprising a cylindrical barrel member having a tapered point, a flexible hair member in the form of a loop secured in the end of said point, a reservoir in said barrel, eye cleaner in said reservoir, a passageway from said reservoir to a point adjacent said loop and a spring pressed plunger in said reservoir. g

'7. A device for removing particles from the 'eye comp-rising an elongated cylindrical barrel member having a tapered point, a'flexible hair member in the form of a loop secured in holes in the end of said point, a reservoir in said barrel, eye cleaner in said reservoir, a passageway from said reservoir to a point adjacent said loop, a spring pressed plunger in said reservoir and a cap secured to said barrel enclosing the end of said plunger.

8. A device for removing particles from the eye comprising an elongated cylindrical barrel member having a tapered point, a flexible hair member in the form of a loop secured in holes in the end of said point, a reservoir in said barrel, eye cleaner in said reservoir, a passageway from said reservoir to a point adjacent said loop, a

' spring pressed plunger in said reservoir and a cap secured to said barrel enclosing the end of said plunger, a clip on said cap and a magn ing glass slidably mounted on said barrel and capable' 6f angular adjustment with respect thereto.

CLARA ANDRZEJEWSKI. 

